Thursday, June 30, 2016

Inman.com recently published an article on the most important reasons why you shouldn’t go into the buying and selling process blind.
We wanted to touch on those reasons, as you can always reach out to a Ruhl&Ruhl agent if you ever have any questions about the home-buying or selling process. If you’re completely unsure of where to start, contact our customer service department either by e-mail or phone at 866.441.1776.
So what are the top 10 reasons you should never buy or sell without an agent? Check them out below!

Knowledge is not power: “At the click of a mouse or a tap on your phone, you can get an instant valuation of your property. Is that value realistic?”

What do you know about the market?: “What is the average number of days on market for homes in your area, and what percentage of the asking price are they getting?”

Agents are expert problem-solvers: “What happens when an inspector paints a picture of a fairly minor repair issue in a far worse light than it is? What happens when an appraisal comes in at less than contract sales price?”

Overcoming objections is what agents excel at: “Superstar agents can effectively address objections such as ‘didn’t like layout’ or ‘needs too much work’ and know how to position a property effectively, so buyers go from ‘just looking’ to locking an offer up.”

Effective negotiation skills are key: “As a buyer, you want to make an offer that asks the seller for everything and the kitchen sink. Does your response risk alienating the other side?”

Preventative medicine equals more money in your pockets: “Surprise is never a good thing when it comes to buying or selling. A good agent walks you through the necessary steps before you start your property search or put your property on the market.”

Marketing expertise is needed to sell your home: “Image is everything when it comes to real estate, and a poorly presented property is like showing up at the Oscars without using a stylist.”

Social network exposure is unmatched: “Are you able to reach hundreds, thousands, or even more with the click of a mouse? Are you able to use predictive analytics and targeted digital marketing to put your property in front of the right prospects?”

Agents have mad connections: “Real estate agents are connected to just about everyone and everything. The three degrees of separation rule applies here.”

Trusted advice and an available point person are a seller’s best friend: “Who else can you go to with a question or concern almost any time of the day or night? Yes, as much as we don’t like to admit it, there is no such thing as office hours for real estate.”

Monday, June 27, 2016

If you ask Kim Gould, she’d probably say she isn’t a hero, she just works with them.
Kim, a Moline agent, works full-time as the Executive Director for the Iowa Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (Iowa PVA). As the Executive Director, Kim coordinates events and fundraising for the chapter. Her job is not always easy, as the organization relies solely on private donations and grants.
Membership in Iowa PVA is free, and consists of veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have suffered a spinal cord injury or received a diagnosis of disease affecting the spinal cord. However, all events hosted by the Iowa PVA are open to any veteran.
These events are also co-hosted by organizations like the Disabled American Veterans of Iowa and the Iowa Veterans Home. One of the most recent examples is the Fishing Trip taken to Minnesota.
“We had one veteran who was newly blind,” Kim said of the group, “he wouldn’t go anywhere without someone he trusted.” Kim was sure she could get him to open up, so she offered to take the veteran out on the boat at 4 a.m. with his wife and physician. The group of four took their time, especially getting on the boat, and soon the veteran was comfortable enough to stand.
At the end of the day, with fish in hand, the veteran smiled proudly for a photo, and Kim had changed another life.
If you’re interested in volunteering for the Iowa PVA or donating to the Iowa PVA, visit their website or Facebook pages.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Dear Faithful RuhlBlog Reader,
As we enjoy the summer with our family and friends – whether we’re on the river or around the barbeque – we should pause to remember why we have our freedom by celebrating and honoring all of the men and women who have served our country in the past and those who continue to serve.
During the month of July, in celebration of America’s birthday, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors will donate $1 for every new “Like” to our Facebook page up to 4,444 likes to Disabled American Veterans (DAV). DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families.
If you are looking for a way to give something back, we invite you to join us by using the hashtag #FreedomRuhls and by going to Facebook.com/RuhlHomes and “Like” our page by July 31! If you already like our page, please invite your friends to like our page. Or, feel free to share any of the posts about how much our veterans and our active duty military service means to everyone who calls our community homes.
We hope that you have a wonderful, fun summer!

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Remember the time your dad taught you how to fish? Or when he was teaching you how to drive, and you almost wrecked his car? What about those yearly summer traditions you had like going to the movies on Monday nights or having a big family dinner for Father’s Day?
Well, we here at Ruhl&Ruhl love celebrating family traditions, and Father’s Day is no different. So we asked a few family members to share their Father’s Day traditions. Check it out!
“I am pretty easy so most days my wife and kids do a grill out for me with a big steak (my favorite) and they usually give me a few gifts (that I insist not be extravagant).” – Sean, Moline Office
“My dad moved to Detroit four years ago, but every year before that, we used to participate in Ride the River on the Illinois bike paths. I loved being able to spend time doing something that we both loved, together.” – Sierra, Marketing
“We always start Father's Day with church and brunch. Now that we have kids it's fun to have four generations of Stopulos men together (our sons Alex and Andrew, Pete, his dad Mike, and his grandfather Jim who turned 99 this year and used to work at Ruhl Commercial). Then the guys go out and golf. I know Pete will look forward to the day when our boys can join him out there on the course.” – Megan, Davenport Office
“We won’t be doing too much. I think I’ll be taking my dad out on the river on Sunday, but other than that, not much!” – Chris Beason, Broker Owner
How do you and your dad celebrate Father’s Day? Share the post on your favorite social media site and let us know!

Friday, June 17, 2016

Are you ready for some kickball?! This second-annual tournament will be the busiest place in town on Saturday, August 20. With three fields of competition, food and drinks available for purchase, and an entire fun zone for kids, you can bring the whole family. Come out and enjoy food provided by Papa John's Pizza, Mason Dixon Saloon, and more! Plus, a jungle gym and bounce houses will make up the fun zone! 10 teams took on the challenge last year, but due to increased interest this year, the total number of teams will be limited at 24. You are limited to 10-14 people per team, but you MUST have four women on your squad. The cost is $200 per team, and each team can also order custom team shirts for only $10 each through Envision Tees. Remember, the winning team takes temporary possession of the SEVEN foot tall Traveling Trophy and gains bragging rights for a year!

This event benefits more than just your ego though, as proceeds benefit three different local charities: The Dubuque/Jackson Co Habitat for Humanity, Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, and the Dubuque Circles Initiative. These three charities are working together to help families through the process of leaving temporary housing, moving into stable housing, learning financial literacy, gaining economic stability, and ultimately owning a home of their own. The goal is to raise $10,000 more than last year.

Spots for the tournament are filling up quickly, so get registered today! Register here. And there is still time to partner as a sponsor, vendor, volunteer, or to donate. Please e-mail us for more details on any opportunity, and together we will Kick Poverty in the Tri-States!

Thanks to event organizer, Jeff Hefel, for providing information for this post.

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